OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of dabigatran versus warfarin on time to elective direct current cardioversion (DCCV). METHODOLOGY: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a single Veterans Affairs hospital in the Southwestern region of the U.S. Patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter who were initiated on either warfarin or dabigatran prior to DCCV were reviewed. The time to cardioversion was compared between warfarin and dabigatran, as well as costs of therapy, rescheduling rates, and adverse events...

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials raised concern that ibrutinib may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation/flutter (Afib/Aflutter) and major bleeding. However, the association has not been statistically validated, and there is no consensus regarding optimal management of anticoagulation among patients receiving ibrutinib who develop Afib/Aflutter. We performed a systematic review and pooled analysis to precisely assess the risk of Afib/Aflutter and bleeding associated with ibrutinib treatment in patients with hematologic malignancies...

A 46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for near syncope and palpitations. An electrocardiogram showed a common type of atrial flutter (AFL) with 1:1 atrioventricular conduction. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a massive right atrial (RA) thrombus with a huge RA and right ventricle. The patient was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. It was difficult to control the heart rate with beta-blockers during AFL, which resulted in the deterioration of right-sided heart failure...

BACKGROUND: Data on left atrial/left atrial appendage (LA/LAA) thrombus resolution after non-vitamin K antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulant treatment are scarce. The primary objective of X-TRA was to explore the use of rivaroxaban for the resolution of LA/LAA thrombi in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter, with the CLOT-AF registry providing retrospective data after standard-of-care therapy in this setting. METHODS: X-TRA was a prospective, single-arm, open-label, multicenter study that investigated rivaroxaban treatment for 6 weeks for LA/LAA thrombus resolution in patients with nonvalvular AF or atrial flutter and LA/LAA thrombus confirmed at baseline on a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)...

INTRODUCTION: Many patients with successful atrial flutter (AFL) ablation will develop atrial fibrillation (AF) during follow-up. This study aimed to determine whether prolonged interatrial conduction time (IACT) is associated with risk for new-onset AF after ablation of isolated, typical AFL. METHODS: Participants were 80 consecutive patients who underwent successful radiofrequency ablation of isolated, typical AFL from 2004 to 2012. Patients with any history of AF prior to AFL ablation were excluded...

Atrial flutter or fibrillation (AFF) remains a major chronic complication of the Fontan procedure. This complication further predisposes this patient population to thromboembolic events. However, the incidence of thromboembolic complications in Fontan patients with AFF prior to or acutely after electrical cardioversion is unknown. This study aimed to characterize the risk of post-cardioversion thromboembolic events in this population. We performed a retrospective medical record review of all patients with a history of Fontan operation treated with direct current cardioversion for AFF at Riley Children's Hospital between June 1992 and March 2014...

BACKGROUND: While atrial fibrillation is a recognized risk factor for stroke, contemporary data on trends in stroke incidence after the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation are scarce. METHODS AND RESULTS: Olmsted County, MN residents with incident atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (collectively referred to as AF) from 2000 to 2010 were identified. Cox regression determined associations of year of AF diagnosis with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurring through 2013...

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well-known cause of strokes and all major society guidelines recommend oral anticoagulants (OAC) such as vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for patients with concomitant risk factors to prevent them. However, compliance with these guidelines is historically poor. This study aims to evaluate the adherence to CHADS2 (congestive heart failure, hypertension,age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus and prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack) guidelines, explore reasons and evaluate outcomes for non-adherence in a tertiary cardiology unit...

BACKGROUND: Left atrial appendage thrombus formation is a known major complication of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter which increases the risk of embolism and stroke. This risk of thrombosis is greatly increased with a lack of anticoagulation. After conversion to a normal sinus rhythm in these arrhythmias, the risk of thrombus formation in the left atrium persists through a phenomenon termed atrial myocardial stunning. CASE: We present the case of a patient who previously underwent successful pulmonary vein isolation and was found to be in typical isthmus-dependent atrial flutter with a questionable recurrence of atrial fibrillation...

BACKGROUND: In patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter, a left atrial appendage ejection velocity measured via transesophageal echocardiography equal to or less than 40 cm/sec has been shown to correlate with an increased risk of developing left atrial appendage thrombus while velocities greater than 40 cm/sec are at lower risk. The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores calculated from clinical variables have been developed to risk stratify patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter in regard to the need for anticoagulation...

Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) have an elevated stroke risk that is 2-7 times greater than in those without AF. Intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH) is commonly used for hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter (AFL) to prevent stroke. Dosing strategies exist for intravenous anticoagulation in patients with acute coronary syndromes and venous thromboembolic diseases, but there are no data to guide providers on a dosing strategy for intravenous anticoagulation in patients with AF/AFL...

BACKGROUND: Identification and appropriate management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is critical to mitigate the consequences of the disease. We sought to assess the frequency and pattern of the emergency department (ED) use by patients who presented with AF and/or atrial flutter (AFL) in a midsized Canadian hospital. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who presented to the ED with AF and/or AFL during the calendar years 2010-2012...

BACKGROUND: In the era of novel antithrombotic therapy, the optimal treatment for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is undetermined. STUDY DESIGN: The AVIATOR 2 study is a multicenter prospective observational registry that will enroll approximately 2,500 patients with nonvalvular AF or flutter undergoing PCI starting March 2015 over an 18-month enrollment period. Antithrombotic therapy selection will be at the discretion of the treating physician...

The influence of race on quality of anticoagulation control is not well described. We examined the association between race, international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring intensity, and INR control in warfarin-treated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Using data from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), we performed a retrospective cohort study of 184,161 patients with a new diagnosis of AF/flutter from 2004 to 2012 who received any VHA prescription within 90 days of diagnosis. The primary predictor was race, ascertained from multiple VHA and linked Medicare demographic files...

We report a case of cerebrovascular accident with thromboembolic stroke etiology in a patient who had atrial flutter and negative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) results. The increased D-dimer levels (1877 ng/mL) initiated referral for magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain that showed classic recanalization of an embolic thrombus in the angular branch of the left middle cerebral distribution. The D-dimer level of this patient was normalized after 3 months of anticoagulation therapy...

INTRODUCTION: Anticoagulation for the prevention of cardioembolic events is highly effective, but largely underused in frail older patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF). This study aimed at identifying characteristics associated with anticoagulation use or non-use and the most frequent complications of this therapy. METHODS: Hospitalized geriatric patients treated in a one-year interval were retrospectively studied for the presence of AF and use or non-use of anticoagulation...

BACKGROUND: The utility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) subsequent to a normal transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) in older patients with an unexplained stroke is uncertain. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-three consecutive patients over the age of 50 years hospitalized with a clinical stroke confirmed with brain magnetic resonance imaging and a normal TTE were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or any other causative reason for stroke were excluded...